Sternenliebe "Love Among the Stars" - A Nocturne for piano

Hello everyone!

This post marks one of the few solo piano pieces I have created. As a classical pianist myself, there is a certain abrasion to writing for the pianoforte that I have come across. It has a special connection to me for my own expression, whether it is by performance, teaching, or discussing. To write for it alone is a daunting task as I hold a lot of respect for the composers who came before me.

This said, I wish to present Sternenliebe to you all. Written in 2025, this work captures passionate love. It was my letter to an admirer, however, our connection was never realized by the time I left for a new chapter of my education and career. Attached on the manuscript was this message, and when reading it now, the more I reflect on what could have been:

"Not a day will go by where I don't think of you. Not a night will go by where I wouldn't wish to see you. This piece is my reminder that each time you look to the sky, I am under the same stars looking back hoping to embrace you again. When you hear me play it, know it's because I am thinking of you."

I hope you enjoy this nocturne I have created! If you want a little more information on the structure of the work, you can find it on page 3 of the document (marked as page 1). Lastly, besides the score, attached is a video of me playing it!

https://youtu.be/9Zz_voOD3r0

SCORE_Sternenliebe.pdf

If you watch on YouTube, I am unsure why there is an audio mishap near the end. I only noticed it after it uploaded to YouTube and I have been too lazy to go back and fix it 😅.

22 minutes ago, MK_Piano said:

If you watch on YouTube, I am unsure why there is an audio mishap near the end. I only noticed it after it uploaded to YouTube and I have been too lazy to go back and fix it 😅.

??? I didn't hear any audio mishaps? Great job on the piece! Very romantic style. Thanks for sharing!

1 minute ago, PeterthePapercomPoser said:

??? I didn't hear any audio mishaps? Great job on the piece! Very romantic style. Thanks for sharing!

Around 1:57, the audio quality suddenly sounds compressed until the end of the video. Not sure why, however, when editing, I didn't notice it. Hope that clarifies!

Hello @MK_Piano

Form: You have succeeded ABA form nicely. I love mini cadenza in the middle section. Your piece reminds of Chopin nocturne!

Theme: you have strong sense of lyricism in your writing. It flows so easily.

Harmony and texture: the bass line texture definitely is something Chopin would do !

I have a strong sense this was inspired by chopin!

Hello

Thank you for sharing this and recording it live.

I’m a huge fan of the nocturnes.

It doesn’t really matter where exactly the ‘imagery’ for the piece comes from, as it immediately exudes a sense of Romanticism.

It’s a beautiful piece; the harmonic shifts come just where the drama is needed...

Best regards.

Hello,

It's very nice. You should write more music for the piano! I love how the A theme is pretty straight forward, but still sounds refreshing and interesting. I think you found a nice balance between compositional creativity and actually sounding good. And when you bring it back, it just sort of ends. Which I liked very much. It's like you've said all you needed to say, no need to draw it out anymore.

The B sections sounds almost a bit triumphant at times. There was a part around 1:34 that really sounded like "that" famous Chopin nocturne in Db.

Thanks for sharing the personal meaning for your song!

Edited Wednesday at 06:26 PM3 days by Grant Weep
Had trouble viewing the youtube, but it works now

Hi Mason,

The accompaniment at the beginning immediately reminds me of the Db major Nocturne of Chopin. The half diminished harmony in b.20-22 is really nice, and I like the more fluid section after it. A simple but really nice nocturne indeed and thx for sharing!

P.S. And forgive me if it sounds weird, but permits me to say that you look really charming and handsome playing the piece =.= Thx for playing it by showcasing your own playing. I play my pieces too but I never dare to show own ugly face playingthe pieces 🤪.

Henry

19 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Hi Mason,

The accompaniment at the beginning immediately reminds me of the Db major Nocturne of Chopin. The half diminished harmony in b.20-22 is really nice, and I like the more fluid section after it. A simple but really nice nocturne indeed and thx for sharing!

P.S. And forgive me if it sounds weird, but permits me to say that you look really charming and handsome playing the piece =.= Thx for playing it by showcasing your own playing. I play my pieces too but I never dare to show own ugly face playingthe pieces 🤪.

Henry

Thanks my friend! All the credit goes to my parents and the Lord for the looks LOL